U.S. patent number 4,128,635 [Application Number 05/773,607] was granted by the patent office on 1978-12-05 for cosmetic emulsions containing copolymers of alkyl (meth) acrylates and mono- or polyhydroxyalkyl (meth) acrylates.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien. Invention is credited to Joachim Galinke, Brigitte Hase, Christian Hase, Bernd Wegemund.
United States Patent |
4,128,635 |
Hase , et al. |
December 5, 1978 |
Cosmetic emulsions containing copolymers of alkyl (meth) acrylates
and mono- or polyhydroxyalkyl (meth) acrylates
Abstract
Water-in-oil emulsions containing from 2 to 20% by weight of
polymeric emulsifiers comprising statistical copolymers composed of
units of the general formulae ##STR1## in the molar ratio of (I) to
(II) of 2:1 to 20:1, wherein X is hydrogen or methyl, R.sub.1 is
alkyl having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2 is --CH.sub.2
--CH.sub.2 --OH, --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.3,--CH.sub.2
--CH(OH)--CH.sub.2 OH or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2
--CH.sub.2 --OH; 20 to 75% by weight of water; and the remainder to
100% by weight of conventional oily substances used in cosmetic
emulsions.
Inventors: |
Hase; Brigitte (Erkrath,
DE), Hase; Christian (Erkrath, DE),
Galinke; Joachim (Langenfeld, DE), Wegemund;
Bernd (Haan, DE) |
Assignee: |
Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf
Aktien (Dusseldorf-Holthausen, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
5971476 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/773,607 |
Filed: |
March 2, 1977 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
514/772.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K
8/06 (20130101); A61K 8/064 (20130101); A61Q
19/00 (20130101); A61K 8/8158 (20130101); A61K
8/8152 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61K
31/78 (20060101); A61K 31/74 (20060101); A61K
031/78 () |
Field of
Search: |
;424/81
;260/23R,28.5R,29.6R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Moyer; Donald B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hammond & Littell
Claims
We claim:
1. A cosmetic emulsion of the water-in-oil type, comprising (1)
from 2% to 20% by weight of statistical copolymers which are
composed, in the molar ratio of (I) to (II) of 2:1 to 20:1, of
units of the general formulae ##STR6## wherein X is hydrogen or a
methyl radical, R.sub.1 is an alkyl radical of 6 to 24 carbon
atoms, and R.sub.2 is a radical selected from the group consisting
of --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.3,
--CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.2 OH, and --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2
O--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, (2) from 20% to 75% by weight of water,
and (3) the remainder to 100% by weight of conventional oily
substances used in cosmetic emulsions.
2. The cosmetic emulsion of claim 1 wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl
radical of 8 to 14 carbon atoms.
3. The cosmetic emulsion of claim 1 wherein the polymeric
emulsifier has an average molecular weight of from 2,000 to
100,000.
4. The cosmetic emulsion of claim 3 wherein the average molecular
weight is from 3,000 to 20,000.
5. The cosmetic emulsion of claim 1 wherein the polymeric
emulsifier is present in an amount of from 5% to 10% by weight,
relative to the total cosmetic emulsion.
6. The cosmetic emulsion of claim 5 wherein the water is present in
an amount of from 45% to 65% by weight, relative to the total
cosmetic emulsion.
7. The cosmetic emulsion of claim 1 wherein, in addition to the
polymeric emulsifier and water, there are present vegetable or
animal fats, waxes, fatty alcohols and hydrocarbons as said oily
substance.
8. In the method of producing a cosmetic emulsion of the
water-in-oil type comprising mixing an emulsifier capable of
forming water-in-oil creams with a cosmetically acceptable oily
material at elevated temperatures, mixing therewith from 20% to 75%
by weight of water, cooling under agitation, and recovering said
cosmetic emulsion of the water-in-oil type, the improvement
consisting of adding (1) from 2% to 20% by weight of the
statistical copolymer of claim 1, (2) from 20% to 75% by weight of
water and (3) the remainder to 100% by weight of conventional oily
substances used in cosmetic emulsions.
9. A composition which when agitated with water forms a cosmetic
emulsion of the water-in-oil type, comprising (1) from 2% to 20% by
weight of the statistical copolymer of claim 1, and (2) the
remainder to 100% by weight of the composition of conventional oily
substances used in cosmetic emulsions.
10. The cosmetic emulsion of claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of (I)
to (II) is (a)2:1 to 8:1 for the copolymers wherein R.sub.2 is a
radical selected from the group consisting of --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2
OH, --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.3, and --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2
O--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OH, and (b) 4:1 to 12:1 for the copolymers
wherein R.sub.2 is --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.2 OH.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to cosmetic emulsions of the water-in-oil
type having a content of copolymers of alkyl(meth)acrylates and
mono- or polyhydroxyalkyl (meth) acrylates as emulsifiers. The
invention includes the emulsions themselves and methods for the
preparation thereof.
RELATED ART
In contrast to the production of oil-in-water emulsions, only a
limited number of emulsifying agents are available for producing
cosmetic emulsions of the water-in-oil type and, moreover, the best
of these emulsifying agents are becoming increasingly scarce. Even
nowadays, wool fat and its derivatives are still some of the most
important bases for emulsifying agents for producing creams of the
water-in-oil type. However, despite their uncontested advantages,
wool fat and its derivatives, such as lanolin, have certain
disadvantages. Thus, conventional water-in-oil emulsifying agents
based on wool fat and its derivatives impart a strong
characteristic odor to the creams prepared with these substances.
This, in turn, requires strong perfuming which frequently cannot be
tolerated by persons having sensitive skin. However, this
influencing of the quality of the cream by a strong characteristic
odor is not only peculiar to wool fat and its derivatives, but also
extends to lanolin-free water-in-oil emulsifying agents based on
animal sterols, particularly such emulsifying agents based on
cholesterol. Furthermore, low-molecular weight emulsifying agents,
together with the effective substances of the cream can be absorbed
by the skin, which is not desirable in all cases.
In addition to the said emulsifying agents based on wool fat, wax
alcohols and sterols, the most widely-known water-in-oil
emulsifiers for cosmetic purposes include the oleic acid esters of
various polyols, such as glycerin, pentaerythritol,
trimethylolpropane and sorbitol. However, due to the unsaturation
in their acid component, the oleic acid esters have various
disadvantages with respect to their technical use, so that there is
a genuine need for new and suitable water-in-oil emulsifying
agents.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is the development of a
cosmetic emulsion or cream of the water-in-oil type which can be
prepared easily and safely from inexpensive materials without need
for costly emulsifying equipment.
Another object of the invention is the development of a cosmetic
emulsion of the above type which is substantially odorless and
which, therefore, can find general acceptance when containing only
a small and harmless amount of perfume.
A particular object of the invention is the production of a
cosmetic emulsion of the above type comprising (1) from 2% to 20%
by weight of a polymeric emulsifier capable of forming water-in-oil
creams composed of units of the general formulae ##STR2## in the
molar ratio of (I) to (II) of 2:1 to 20:1, wherein X is hydrogen or
methyl, R.sub.1 is alkyl having 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2
is --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH, --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.3,
--CH.sub.2 --CH(OH) --CH.sub.2 OH or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2
--O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH; 20 to 75% by weight of water; and
the remainder to 100% by weight of conventional oily substances
used in cosmetic emulsions.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more
apparent as the description thereof proceeds.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It has now been discovered that the objectionable features of the
prior art emulsifiers have been overcome and the above objects have
been achieved by the discovery of cosmetic emulsions of the
water-in-oil type containing (1) from 2% to 20% by weight, relative
to the total weight of the emulsion, of statistical copolymers
which are composed, in the molar ratio of (I) to (II) of 2:1 to
20:1, of units of the general formulae ##STR3## wherein X is
hydrogen or a methyl radical, R.sub.1 is an alkyl radical having 6
to 24 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 is a radical selected from the group
consisting of --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2
--CH(OH)--CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.2 OH and --CH.sub.2
--CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH,
(2) from 20% to 75% by weight of water, relative to the total
weight of the emulsion, and (3) the remainder to 100% by weight of
conventional oily substances used in cosmetic emulsions, such as
vegetable and animal fats, waxes, fatty alcohols, hydrocarbons and
other auxiliary substances normally used in cosmetic emulsions.
The preparation of the copolymers of alkyl(meth) acrylates and
hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates used as emulsifiers in the cosmetic
emulsions of the invention can be effected in known manner in one
step under the usual conditions of radical polymerization. The
polymerization can be carried out with nonpolar solvents, such as
benzene or toluene, or in polar solvents, such as methanol, methyl
ethyl ketone or tetrahydrofuran, by means of peroxides, such as
dibenzoyl peroxide or lauroyl peroxide, and azo compounds, such as
azobisisobutyronitrile as a catalyst.
The technical production is preferably effected in the form of a
solution polymerization, in those solvents which dissolve only the
monomers, but not the polymer (precipitation polymerization),
particularly since this results in satisfactorily precipitable
polymers which are practically free of monomers (J. Scheiber,
Chemie and Technologie der Kunstlichen Harze, Vol. I, pages 362 ff,
1961.
The monomeric starting compounds from which the polymer units (II)
of the copolymers of the invention are derived are the esters of
acrylic acid or methacrylic acid with ethylene glycol,
1,2-propylene glycol, glycerin or diethylene glycol. In part, these
monomers are commercially available products, such as
2-hydroxyethyl acrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, or
products known in the literature, such as 2,3-dihydroxypropyl
acrylate (C.A. 72, p. 56, 787r; U.S. Pat. No. 3,488,327) and
2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate (J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 9,3162/63).
They are prepared by methods known in the art.
The monomeric starting compounds from which the polymer units (I)
of the copolymers of the invention are derived have the formula
##STR4## wherein X is hydrogen or methyl, and R.sub.1 is an alkyl
radical having 6 to 24, more preferably 8 to 14, carbon atoms.
Among the monomeric starting compounds of the formula (III) above
may be mentioned hexyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl
acrylate, nonyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, myristyl
acrylate, cetyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, behenyl acrylate, hexyl
methacrylate, octyl methacrylate, nonyl methacrylate, decyl
methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, myristyl methacrylate, cetyl
methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate and behenyl methacrylate.
Among the preferred monomers of the formula (III) having 8 to 14
carbon atoms in the alkyl radical are octyl acrylate, nonyl
acrylate, decyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, myristyl acrylate, octyl
methacrylate, nonyl methacrylate, decyl methacrylate, lauryl
methacrylate, and myristyl methacrylate.
In the copolymers of the invention, the molar ratios of the mono-
or polyhydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate monomer: alkyl (meth) acrylate
monomer are from 1:2 to 1:20; preferably from 1:2 to 1:8 in the
copolymers containing monohydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate units and
preferably from 1:4 to 1:12 in the copolymers containing
polyhydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate units.
Among the copolymers of the invention may be mentioned
2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate (1:6 molar ratio),
2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate/decyl methacrylate (1:8 molar ratio),
2,3-dihydroxypropyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate (1:12 molar ratio),
2-hydroxypropyl acrylate/myristyl acrylate (1:6 molar ratio) and
2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/octyl methacrylate (1:8 molar ratio).
Very satisfactory results have been obtained using 2-hydroxyethyl
acrylate/dodecyl acrylate (1:6 molar ratio).
The copolymers of the invention have average molecular weights
between 2,000 and 100,000. Those having average molecular weights
between 3,000 and 20,000 are particularly suitable in view of their
easy processability and the quality of the emulsions obtained.
These molecular weights can be adjusted in a known manner by the
amount of catalyst, the nature and amount of the solvent, and by
the addition of polymerization regulators.
The emulsions in accordance with the invention are produced in a
simple and known manner by dissolving the copolymers, acting as the
emulsifying agents, in the oil phase at a temperature of
approximately 60.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. Subsequently, the
desired quantity of water, heated to approximately 60.degree. C. to
65.degree. C., is added, and the emulsion obtained is stirred while
cooling.
Cosmetically effective amounts of further constituents of the
cosmetic emulsions being manufactured, such as skin moisture
regulators, vegetable extracts of effective substances, vitamins,
hormones, pigments, salts, perfume oils, UV filtering substances,
dyestuffs, etc., are advantageously dissolved or distributed in the
phase which absorbs these substances to best advantage. The
quantity of emulsifying agent required is 2% to 20% by weight,
preferably 5% to 10% by weight, relative to the total cosmetic
emulsion. The amount of water to be incorporated can be 20% to 75%
by weight, preferably 45% to 65% by weight, relative to the total
cosmetic emulsion.
Products conventionally used, such as animal and vegetable oils and
fats, synthetic esters of fatty acids with aliphatic alcohols,
higher fatty alcohols, waxes, so-called mineral fats and oils, such
as paraffin oil, "Vaseline.RTM.", ceresin, silicone oils and
silicone fats are suitable as the oil phase of the cosmetic
emulsions in accordance with the invention.
The invention thus also includes a composition which when agitated
with water forms a cosmetic emulsion of the water-in-oil type,
comprising (1) from 2% to 20% by weight, relative to the total
weight of said composition, of a polymeric emulsifier which is a
copolymer composed, in the molar ratio of (I) to (II) of 2:1 to
20:1, of units of the general formulae ##STR5## wherein X is
hydrogen or a methyl radical, R.sub.1 is an alkyl radical having 6
to 24 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 is a radical selected from the group
consisting of --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 OH, --CH.sub.2
--CH(OH)--CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 --CH(OH)--CH.sub.2 OH and --CH.sub.2
--CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --OH, and (2) the remainder to
100% by weight of the composition of conventional oily substances
used in cosmetic emulsions. Such conventional oily substances
include animal and vegetable oils, and fats, synthetic esters of
fatty acids with aliphatic alcohols, higher fatty alcohols, waxes,
so-called mineral fats and oils, such as paraffin oil,
"Vaseline.RTM.", ceresin, silicone oils and silicone fats. In
addition, the cosmetic emulsions or creams can contain, if desired,
other auxiliary substances normally used in cosmetic emulsions.
Examples of such auxiliary substances are skin moisture regulators,
vegetable extracts of effective substances, vitamins, hormones,
pigments, salts, perfume oils, UV filtering substances, dyestuffs,
etc.
German Offenlegungsschrift (DOS) 2,116,787 has already described
the use of water-in-oil emulsifying agents in the form of sequence
polymers which at the same time have at least one lipophilic
sequence and one hydrophilic sequence. Each sequence should have
the properties of the corresponding homopolymer. These sequence
polymers are obtained by anionic polymerization, which places high
demands on the purity of the substances used, and requires working
at low temperatures under protective gas and increased safety
precautions when handling spontaneously combustible catalysts. In
contrast to this, the emulsifying agents required for producing the
emulsions in accordance with the present invention can be
manufactured in a simple manner.
According to German Offenlegungsschrift (DOS) No. 1,745,216,
copolymers of a monomer with a lipophilic chain and a monomer with
a carboxylic acid anhydride function are suggested as emulsifiers
for water-in-oil emulsions. But these products are sensitive to
hydrolysis, and, to avoid this disadvantage, a further processing
step in addition to the polymerization is required in order to
convert them into a more stable form.
In general, the emulsions in accordance with the present invention
can also be used by persons having a sensitive skin. Since they do
not have any appreciable characteristic odor, they do not require
heavy perfuming, which in turn, has an advantageous effect upon the
compatibility and also reduces costs.
Furthermore, the emulsions according to the invention are
characterized by low sensitivity to acid, thus rendering it
possible to incorporate acidic raw materials therein, such as
organic acids. Another very favorable property of the emulsions
according to the invention is their high temperature stability,
which enables them to withstand a thermal stress of 50.degree. C.
for 6 weeks without any detrimental effects.
In the specification and Claims the terms "alkyl(meth)acrylate(s)"
and "mono- or polyhydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylate(s)" are used to
designate ester(s) of acrylic acid and ester(s) of methacrylic
acid.
The following examples further illustrate the invention, but
without limiting the invention to these examples.
EXAMPLES
The following example illustrates the preparation of a copolymer
for use in the cosmetic emulsions of the present invention.
EXAMPLE 1
2-Hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate-copolymer (1:6 molar
ratio)
11.6 gm (0.1 mole) of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate and 144 gm (0.6 mole)
of dodecyl acrylate were dissolved in 360 gm of methyl ethyl
ketone. To the solution obtained were added 3.1 gm of dibenzoyl
peroxide as a catalyst. The reaction mixture was maintained for 5
hours under stirring at a temperature of 80.degree. C. After the
reaction was completed, the solvent was distilled off and the
reaction product was washed several times with methanol. 148 gm,
(95% of theory) of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate
copolymer (1:6 molar ratio) were obtained.
The other copolymers, used in the examples given below, were
obtained in an analogous manner to the above method.
EXAMPLE 2
Cosmetic emulsion based on Vaseline.RTM.
A mixture of 10 gm of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl
acrylate-copolymer (1:6 molar ratio) and 40 gm of Vaseline.RTM. was
melted together by heating to 65.degree. C. To the melt were added
50 gm of water, which had been heated to 65.degree. C., and the
mass was allowed to cool under constant stirring. The emulsion can
be easily produced by manual stirring. The cream obtained is stable
for several months and showed no change even after 6 weeks at
50.degree. C. By adding various conventional cosmetic agents and
perfume oils, this basic cream can be used to produce various skin
creams.
The following copolymers can also be used in the foregoing example
with equally good results instead of the 2-hydroxyethyl
acrylate-dodecyl acrylate copolymer (1:6 molar ratio).
______________________________________ Molar Copolymer Ratio
______________________________________ 2-hydroxyethyl
acrylate/cetyl acrylate (1:4) 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/behenyl
arcylate (1:2) 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/octyl acrylate (1:12)
2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/decyl acrylate (1:6) 2-hydroxyethyl
methacrylate/octyl methacrylate (1:8) 2-hydroxypropyl
acrylate/myristyl acrylate (1:6) 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate/stearyl
acrylate (1:4) 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate/decyl methacrylate
(1:8) 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate/dodecyl acrylte (1:4)
2,3-dihydroxypropyl acrylate/hexyl acrylate (1:20)
2,3-dihydroxypropyl acrylate/octyl acrylate (1:15)
2,3-dihydroxypropyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate (1:12)
2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate/nonyl methacrylate (1:8)
2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate/cetyl methacrylate (1:6)
______________________________________
EXAMPLE 3
Cosmetic emulsion based on peanut oil/decyl oleate mixture
A mixture of 4 gm of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate
copolymer (1:6 molar ratio), 40 gm of a hardened peanut oil/decyl
oleate mixture (90:10 by weight), 3 gm of beeswax, and 3 gm of
glyceryl monooleate was melted together by heating to 70.degree. C.
To the melt were added under constant stirring 50 gm of water,
which had been heated to 65.degree. C., and the paste was allowed
to cool under constant stirring. A cream was obtained which was to
a great extent similar in its stability properties to the cream of
Example 2. By incorporating additional cosmetically effective
amounts of conventional cosmetically effective substances, such as
skin moisture regulators, vegetable extracts, and perfume oils,
various skin creams can be prepared from this basic cream.
The following copolymers can be used with equally good results
instead of the hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate copolymer
(1:6 molar ratio) used above:
______________________________________ Molar Copolymer Ratio
______________________________________ 2-hydroxyethyl
acrylate/stearyl acrylate (1:2) 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/dodecyl
acrylate (1:4) 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/octyl methacrylate (1:8)
2-hydroxypropyl acrylate/decyl acrylate (1:10) 2-hydroxypropyl
acrylate/myristyl acrylate (1:6) 2,3-dihydroxy propyl
acrylate/myristylmethacrylate (1:8) 2,3-dihydroxy propyl
acrylate/octyl acrylate (1:12) 2,3-dihydroxy propyl acrylate/cetyl
acrylate (1:4) 2,3-dihydroxy propyl methacrylate/cetyl methacrylate
(1:6) 2,3-dihydroxy propyl methacrylate/hexyl methacrylate (1:12)
______________________________________
EXAMPLE 4
Cosmetic emulsion based on Vaseline.RTM./decyl oleate mixture
A mixture of 7 gm of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate
copolymer (1:6 molar ratio), 10 gm of Vaseline.RTM., 15 gm of decyl
oleate, 3 gm of beeswax, and 2 gm calcium stearate was melted
together by heating to 65.degree. C. Into this mixture were stirred
63 gm of water, heated to 65.degree. C., and the stirring was
continued until the emulsion became cold. A cream was obtained
which was very similar in its stability properties to the other two
creams described above. By incorporating conventional cosmetically
effective substances and perfume oils, a large number of cosmetic
creams based on this basic cream can be produced.
The 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate copolymer (1:6 molar
ratio), used as an emulsifier, can be replaced with equally good
results by the same amount of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/octyl
acrylate copolymer (1:8 molar ratio), 2,3-dihydroxypropyl
acrylate/octyl acrylate copolymer (1:12 molar ratio), and the other
copolymers mentioned above.
EXAMPLE 5
Cosmetic emulsion based on hardened peanut oil
A mixture of 6 gm of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate/dodecyl acrylate
copolymer (1:6 molar ratio), and 44 gm of hardened peanut oil was
melted together by heating to 65.degree. C. Into this mixture were
stirred 50 gm of water, which has been heated to 65.degree. C.
After stirring until the emulsion was cold, a cream was obtained
which resembled to a great extent the previously mentioned creams
in its stability properties. The cream can be used as a basic cream
for various cosmetic preparations, such as described above.
The preceding specific embodiments are illustrative of the practice
of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that other
expedients known to those skilled in the art or disclosed herein,
may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention
or the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *